The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied DIC benefits based on a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. The cause of death was attributed to hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with dumping syndrome as a contributing factor.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that the service-connected gastrointestinal disorder did not materially contribute to the veteran's death and that other risk factors for coronary artery disease were more likely contributory than the service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, dumping syndrome, residual of a vagotomy and gastroenterostomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2004
- Citation
- 0431505
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0431505.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. 1318, finding that his death was not caused by a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Guam or American Samoa, which could affect his presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents or his service-connected ischemic heart disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a VA evaluation to determine if the Veteran's fatal cardiovascular disabilities are related to his military service, including jet fuel exposure.
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